Chapter 4 - VANESSA KNEW MORE THAN SHE ADMITTED
Vanessa denied everything.
For exactly nine days.
Then police obtained her messages through the assault investigation after she was accused of helping hide evidence.
One conversation was with Vivian.
Vivian:
If Elena marries Daniel, Dad loses leverage.
Vanessa:
Then stop it.
Vivian:
We’re trying.
Vanessa:
She always ruins everything by pretending to have principles.
Another.
Three weeks before the engagement party:
Vanessa:
What if Daniel finds out the Hale deal was supposed to be me?
Vivian:
He doesn’t need to.
Vanessa:
And if Elena refuses the land vote after marriage?
Vivian:
Then we deal with Elena.
The phrase was vague.
Then came a message from Robert.
Party is the last chance.
Vanessa replied:
She won’t sign.
Robert:
Then I’ll make her understand what happens when she embarrasses this family.
No brick.
No direct plan for violence.
But pressure.
Threat.
Control.
Vanessa’s attorney argued she had not known Robert would throw anything.
That may have been true.
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Elena did not need to invent guilt bigger than the evidence.
Vanessa’s cruelty after the assault was enough to end any illusion of sisterhood.
